hey steve, thanks for your detailed answer, i was really just curious if that having small/ no meals at all around gym time can be beneficiary for maintaing mass in the hopes of losing excess fat. As per the pre workout meal, when i say "big" i just mean i have a solid rice/potato and chicken/steak/fish (usually around 70g carb, 50g protein and whatever fat comes with the meat) and some veggies. Also to clarify the 'starving' .. i don't starve at work, i eat every 2 hours (my break times are 10, 12 30, and 3) and i eat till I'm full, however when i have lowered my food intake, i starve and get really hungry probably because my job is, for the most part labour.

The main reason i had this thought was because when i come straight home, i could take my pre supp and be at the gym by 7, stay for a little longer till 9. come home, shower, and either go to bed or have a protein shake, and that would be a lot easier rather then during the day. but i am scared that i might see some strength diminish, as well as muscle

I have been leaner before, i did the keto diet for the 200lb man, and it worked great! after the 2nd week, fat just melted, even my stomach shrunk because i was barely eating ( i feel that drinking mostly shakes had something to do with it) but my strength went down the shitter. as well as i did loose more mass then i thought i should have.